2/6/14 - Horses suspected of neglect have again been removed from a Cohoctah Township farm while a new animal cruelty case proceeds against the owner. 71-year-old Velva Jean Wainscott was charged after an investigation into the death of a horse found lying on its paddock on her Byron Road property January 12th. She was ordered not to possess any horses while the criminal case is pending, and The Michigan Horse Welfare Coalition and two partner rescue groups aided Livingston County Animal Control in removing all of the horses from the farm. Coalition Rescue Coordinator Jodi Louth tells WHMI the nine horses that were removed were visibly thin, and did not have food or water when they arrived this morning. Eight were transported to Starry Skies Equine Rescue in Ann Arbor and one to Horsesâ Haven in Howell for rehabilitation. Wainscott's horses were previously seized by Animal Control in November of 2012 after she was accused of abandoning or cruelty to 10 or more horses. Those charges were dismissed with prejudice and the animals were returned. In the latest criminal case, Wainscott is charged with abandoning/cruelty to one animal resulting in death and a second count of abandoning/cruelty to 2 or 3 animals. She is scheduled to appear in 53rd District Court for a hearing Monday. Photo courtesy of Michigan Horse Welfare Coalition. (JM)
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